Sound insulated motion picture camera



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SOUND INSULATED MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed May '7, 1964 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 I Irzwzzfar 6602 6 .5. 7721221161 1 Aug. 3, 1937. G. A. MITCHELL SOUND INSULATED MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed May '7, 1954 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 3, 1937. G. A. MITCHELL 2,088,714

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SOUND INSULATED MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed May 7, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet ll Patented Aug. 3, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SOUND INSULATED MOTION PICTURE CAMERA George A. Mitchell, Los Angeles, Calif., minor to Mitchell Camera Corporation, West Hollynwood, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May '7, 1934, Serial No. 724,351

Renewed April 23, 1937 4 Claims. (01. sis-16.2)

This invention relates generally to motion picture cameras, and it may be stated as a general object of the invention to provide a sound insulated motion picture camera.

Since the advent of sound pictures it has become essential to silence the motion picture camera, since camera noises are readily picked up and recorded by the sound recording equipment. Attempts have been made to meet the problem by devising quiet camera mechanisms to take the place of the comparatively noisy mechanisms heretofore used, but at the best so far achieved the camera still produces considerably more than an acceptable minimum of noise. Ac-

cordingly, it has been common practice to enclose the entire camera within a comparatively large sound proof box. Such sound proof boxes have sometimes constituted booths, sufficiently large enough for the cameramen to enter to operate-the camera, and in other cases are simply large boxes adapted to surround the camera.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a more compact sound insulated motion picture camera, the sound insulation parts of which are constructed as a component part of the camera structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sound insulated motion picture camera in which the various usual manual control devices as well as focusing and view finding devices extend through or are mounted on the exterior of the insulated camera case.

A further object of the invention is to provide 5 a particularly effective sound insulation medium, and a desirable and effective means of applying it to a camera housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a special sound proof housing with an improved 4 means for quickly and easily gaining access to the camera mechanism, and also to the film magazine for the purpose of changing film, or for the purpose of entirely removing the film maga zine.

following detailed description of a present preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a particular motion picture camera, which will new best be set forth without further preliminary 5o discussion, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sound insulamd camera of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the camera seen in 55 Fig. l;

Various additional objects will appear from the Fig. 3 is an elevation of the camera looking at the side opposite to that seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a section taken on line 3a,3a of Fig. 2, but showing the interior camera mechanlsm in plan;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the front end of the camera, being a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5a is a section taken on line 5a5a of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the side of the camera, the view finder device being removed, and certain parts being broken away to expose underlying parts;

Fig. '7 is a section takenas indicated by the broken line 'l'| of Figs. 1 and 3, the interior camera box and magazine being shown in full elevation but with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a section taken as indicated by line 8-8 of Figs. 2 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken as indicated by line 3w-3a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 9 but showing the interior camera box moved to another position;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line il-l| of Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line I2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 12a is a section taken on line Ila-82a of Fig. 11; v

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line l3l3 0 Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line I4-l4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a section on the plane indicated by line l5-l5 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail taken from Fig. 9;

Fig. 1'7 is a detail section taken on line l'l-l'l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 18 is a section taken on line lB--i8 of Fig. 1; and.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on line l9-l9 of Fig. 18.

The present invention is here illustrated in connection with the Mitchell type of motion picture camera, to which certain features of the present invention particularly relate. It is a characteristic of the Mitchell camera that its film mechanism, including a focusing instrument, shifts laterally behind the photographic lens; and certain aspects of the invention relate to the sound proof enclosure of that shifting type of camera. It will be understood, however, that this constitutes no limitation on certain other aspects of the invention, inasmuch as in certain aspects the invention is applicable to other types of cameras as well.

In the drawings, numeral l designates generally the exterior case of the sound insulated camera, this case comprising a box-like casting ll including front and rear walls 12 and I3, respectively, vertical side wall 14, and top IS. A bed plate 16 closes the lower side of easing H, engaging upwardly against lugs l8 within said casting and being fastened thereto by screws I9 (Figs. 7 and 8). This bed plate is adapted to rest on and be secured down to the head plate 20 of the tripod. The side of casting ll opposite side I4 is closed by a removable side casting 2|, shaped to fit around the camera motor M, and fastened in place by screws 22.

The top wall 15 of case H has a rectangular opening through which extends the lower portion or throat of,the usual camera magazine 25. Amagazine compartment 21 is removably mounted on the top of case around opening 25, and is of a size and shape to accommodate the camera magazine in two different positions, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

The side l4 of the housing is provided with an opening (Fig. '7), which is closed by a downwardly swinging door 3|, the latter provided with downwardly extending integrally formed arms 32 and 33 (Fig. 1) pivoted on pivot pins 34 and 35, respectively, which are respectively carried by mountings 3'5 and 31 affixed to side wall [4.

The entire case, swinging door, and magazine compartment, as thus described, is lined, except where certain parts project through the walls, with a layer of suitable sound insulating material S. This insulation may be of any suitable substance having the desired sound insulation qualities, although I prefer to form it as a molded layer of rubber, or rubber substitute, preferably of the same nature as those produced by sulphuretted oils. A well known example of such a material is ordinary art gum. I have found that this substance may readily be molded into variously shaped forms adapted to fit the irregular conformations of the exterior camera case, and also that its sound insulation qualities are very marked, while at the same time deterioration of this material is negligible. Accordingly, a set of moldings is made of the chosen material, preferably of substantially uniform thickness, but of various outlines and shapes to fit accurately the inner surfaces of the various irregular walls of the case and magazine compartment. These individual moldings are cemented within the walls which they are formed to fit, such as typically indicated at 38 within housing door 3|, and at 39 within side wall 2| (Fig. 7).

The operative motion picture camera mechanism, or camera. proper, is mounted within this sound insulated case, which, as will subsequently appear, has been constructed of such a shape as to receive and closely conform to the outline of the camera mechanism, but to accommodate movement of certain components of the camera mechanism within the case.

The interior insulated camera structure will be seen (Figs. 8 and 15) to embody a horizontal base or bed plate 40, having rising from its forward end a vertical head portion 4i, and a camera box or mechanism carrier 42 located to the rear of head 4| and arranged to slide transversely across bed 40 in ways 43. This box 42 carries all of the running gear of the camera.

Camera base 40 is supported on a molded insulation pad 45 of the described material, which this provision serves accurately to horizontally position the interior camera structure with reference to the exterior housing or case ID. The front and rear ends of base 40 have forwardly and rearwardly projecting supporting flanges 5D and 5!, respectively, (Fig. 8) which rest down on pad 45, while the forward and rearward housing walls I2 and I3 have inwardly projecting flanges 53 and 54 which overlie plates and 5!, respectively. An insulation pad 55 is placed between 50 and 53, and an insulation pad 56 is placed between flanges 5| and 54, these pads be ing snugly fitted and serving to restrict the camera base against movement within case l0. Screws 5B and 59 at the front and rear pass upwardly through pad 45, extend through enlarged apertures 60 in flanges 50 and 5|, and thence pass through pads 55 and 55 to screw thread into housing flanges 53 and 54, respectively. The heads of the screws, with washers, bear upwardly against pad 45, locally somewhat com-l pressing it. These provisions serve accurately to position the interior camera structure and mechanism within the insulated housing, without the interior camera mechanism engaging in metal to metal contact with any metallic part of the housing.

The camera head 4! that rises from the forward end of base member 40 is hollow (Fig. 15) and houses certain mat devices, not necessary here to illustrate, and its forward side is closed by a plate that carries the lens mount (see Figs. 5, 5a, 8 and 15). The camera here shown is of the type having a-single photographic lens mount holder, which is adapted to removably receive lens mounts having lenses of different focal lengths, rather than of the other common type involving a rotatable lens turret carrying a plurality of lenses of various focal lengths; it will be obvious, however, that the present invention is adaptable to either type.

The lens mount,

generally designated at 6B, is shown in Figs. 5

and 8 to be supported on wall 65 and to project through a circular opening 61 in housing wall i 2 and the insulation pad immediately within that wall. The cylindrical outer barrel 10 of the lens mount is removably received within a supporting sleeve H formed integrally with the aforementioned wall 65, and is adapted to be removably clamped thereto through engagement of its lugs 10a by inwardly extending flange portions 12a of a clamping ring 12 screwthreaded on the exterior of sleeve 1I(Fig. 5a). Screwthreaded within barrel 10' is an inner barrel '4, while mounted within barrel I4 is a tube 15 and ring 16 which carry and position the lens tube assembly H which contains the photographic lens L and the usual iris, not shown. Rotation of barrel 14 causes said barrel and the photographic lens carried thereby to be screwed forwardly or rearwardly within outer barrel l0, and this operation is utilized to focus the lens. The means effecting, such rotation of barrel ll for focus ing purposes will be described at a later point in the specification. 5 Immediately to the rear of the photographic lens and in alinement therewith there is formed in head 41 the usual photographic aperture, as indicated at 82 in Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 15, this aperture extending through the rear wall 65a of the hollow head.

The camera box 02 carries on its top the usual film magazine 26, which is detachably mounted on said box in any suitable manner. The magazine shown is of conventional type, embodying 15 compartments 81 and 88 for the feed and takeup film rolls, respectively, which compartments are provided with circular lids 89 screwthreaded therein (see Figs. '7 and 8), said lids being removable for the purpose of loading or unloading the magazine with film. Throat 90 of the magazine, through which the film passes in entering and leaving camera box 42, rests on and is detachably secured to camera box 42 in any usual or suitable manner, as indicated in Figs. '7 and 8. The aperture 25 formed in the top of the exterior camera housing is preferably of such size as just to pass magazine throat 90,

as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Within each magazine compartment is a film-spool receiving 30 spindle 92, which is journalled in and extends through the rear side of the magazine. The spindle 92 within the rearward or film receiving compartment 88 has on its outer end a pulley 94 adapted to be driven by a belt 95. Such a magazine is well known and need not here be further described.

Camera box or carrier 02 is adapted to carry the usual film guide rollers, sprockets and intermittent film movement mechanism, for inter rnittent1y moving the film F downwardly past aperture 82, in the focal plane of photographic lens L, these parts all being well known and requiring no present illustration. The driving motor M for the camera mechanism is also mount 45 ed on this frame or carrier 42 that carries the film mechanism, and therefore shifts with it during the described transverse shift on bed 40.

For the purpose of gaining access to the interior of camera box 42, the side of the camera 50 box adjacent housing door 36 is provided with a door 96 Fig. 8), hinged along its lower edge.

as at 91. This camera box door 96 may be opened after housing door 3i has been swung down.

Mounted on the outside of camera box door 96, 55 at the level of photographic aperture 82, is a focusing tube 98. The forward end of this focusing tube comes closely adjacent the rear surface of camera head M when camera box 42 is moved to the right on bed 40 (viewing the cam: 60 era from the rear), and by such movement the forward open end, or focusing aperture, of the focusing tube is brought into register with photographic aperture 82 in head 4! and thus into alinement with photographic lens L. This is the 65 focusing position of the camera box and focusing tube, and is indicated in Fig. 10. The focusing tube here illustrated carries a ground glass I00 which is in the .focal plane of the photographic lens, and, when the camera box and focusing 70 tube have been moved to the position last mentioned, namely, with the focusing tube registered with the photographic aperture 82 and lens, this ground glass occupies the position normally taken by the film. The focusing tube has an 75 objective combination IOI, collector I02 immediately to the rear of ground glass I00, and, in the rear end of tube 95, a collector I03. The eye piece for the focusing tube is not mounted in the usual manner in the rear end of the tube,

' but is mounted in the rear wall I3 of the exterior insulated housing, and is permanently located in a position in optical alinement with aperture 82 and the photographic lens (see Figs. 3a, 8, 9 and 10, where A-A designates the axis of the lens). The eye piece here shown comprises a tube I06 carrying lens I01, which is mounted to slide forwardly and rearwardly for adjustment purposes in a supporting sleeve I08 formed integrally with wall I3.

The camera box position indicated in Figs. 7 and 9 is the take position, with the film F within the camera box alined with aperture 82 and the photographic lens. In this position the focusing tube 95 is received within a pocket IIO (see Fig. 7) formed in housing door 3|, and is out of alinement with its eye piece I05. When the camera box is moved over in ways 43 to the focusing position, with the focusing tube alined .with aperture 82 and with its eye piece I in wall I3 (Fig. then the ground glass of the focusing tube occupies the position previously occupied by the film, and receives the photographic image which will be formed on the film when the camera box is subsequently returned to the tak ng position of Figs. '7 and 9. When the box and focusing tube are in focusing position (Fig. 10), the image on the ground glass may be viewed, magnified, through eye piece I05 and the focusing tube, and at this time the photographic lens may be focused until the image appears sharp on the ground glass. The

camera box is then shifted back to the position of Figs. 7 and 9 for taking and the image is sharp on the film.

Thus the focusing device is by the present invention divided into two parts, first, a focusing tube carried by the transversely movable camera carrier or box, and registerable with the stationary aperture and photographic lens, andsecond, an eye piece mounted in the rear wall of the exterior housing in permanent optical alinement with said aperture and lens. This provision of a stationary focusing-tube eye piece in permanent optical alinement with the photographic aperture permits the use of a tightly closed, insulated, exterior case about the shifting camera mechanism carrier and focusing tube.

For the purpose of shifting the camera box between the taking and focusing'positions described, the underside of said box is provided with a pair of racks IIB. with which mesh spur gears II'I which are mounted on a shaft II8 that extends outwardly through the rear wall I3 of the exterior housing. and has on its outer end an operating handle I i9 (see Figs. '7 and 8). Rotation of this handle H9 causes gears iii to act through racks H6 to shift the camera box from one position to the other.

As will be evident from Fig. 7, the magazine compartment 21 of the exterior housing is made i of sufiiclent width to accommodate the magazine 26 mounted on the movable camera box 42 in both of the described positions of the camera box. Compartment 21 is divided longitudinally into two halves, I25 and I26, hinged together at the top, as at I21 (Fig. '7). The two halves rest a down on top wall I5 of housing II, and at their forward and rearward ends have downward flanges I28 and I29 (Fig. 8) which fit over the ends of said housing, in the manner clearly shown. Compartment half I26 is provided on its outer side with a hinged mounting I30 (Fig. 7) on housing top wall I5, and is secured down by means of screws I3I which pass through its projectlons I28 and I29 to screwthread into the adjacent walls of housing I I (Fig. 8) The other compartment half I is provided on its side with a clamping screw I34 adapted to screwthread into an apertured lug I extending upwardly from housing wall I5.

When it is desired to change film in the magazine, screw I34 is loosened and compartment hall. I25 swung upwardly about its hinged connection I21 with the other compartment half I26. Magazine lids 89 may then be removed and the film changed. In case it is desired to remove magazine 26 from the camera, screws I3I are also loosened and compartment half I26 swung downwardly on its hinged mounting I30. This permits the belt 95 on the rear side of the magazine to be reached and removed and the magazine to be demounted in the usual manner. The hinged mounting I30 connecting compartment half I26 with housing wall I5 is here shown (Fig. 3) to embody a pair of hinge pins I38 rigidly supported by and projecting forwardly from mountings I39 afiixed to the side wall of member I26, and corresponding bearings I for said pins mounted on top of wall I5. By swinging compartment half I26 to the right, as viewed from the rear of the camera, until its projections I28 and I29 clear the upper side of housing I I, the entire magazine compartment 21 may be removed from housing II by pulling it rearwardly until pins I38 disengage from bearings I40.

The side wall of magazine compartment half I26 is shown provided with a double-glass walled window I4I immediately opposite take-up reel pulley 94. The operation of the film take-up can 40 be observed through this window.

The camera motor is designated at M, its housing being afiixed to the side of camera box or carrier 42 (Figs. 7, 9 and 10). The camera motor accordingly shifts with the transverse movement of the carrier, and its two positions are shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Means are provided for manually rotating this camera motor from outside the cam era housing, this means being operative, however, only when camera box 42 is in the "take position. J ournaled in a bearing I44 mounted in the rear end of side casting III is a motor operating shaft I45, having on its inner end a gear I46 which is adapted to be meshed with a gear I42 on motor shaft I4I when the camera box and the motor M are in the taking position of Fig. 9.

, Gear I46 may be moved into mesh with gear I42,

when the parts are in that position, by moving shaft I45 inwardly through bearing I44 against a coil spring I46, spring I46 being placed around shaft I 45 with in a counterbore I48a in bearing I44, and acting against a collar I50 on shaft I45 to move the shaft in an outward direction. For

. the purpose of convenient operation of shaft I45, an operating knob I49 is mounted on its outer end.

5 Shaft I45 and gear I46 thus normally take the extended position of Fig. 10, out of mesh with and entirely clearing gear I42. Gear I46 being in the position of Fig. 10, the camera box may be shifted over to focusing position without interference between gears I46 and I42, as will be obvious from Fig. 10. And when the camera box is in taking position (Fig. 9), knob I49 may be moved inwardly to engage gear I46 with gear I42, and may then be turned to manually rotate the motor 15 shaft and thus to move the film. The motor is permanently in operative driving relation to the film; in fact it is a part of the film moving mechanism.

The other end of motor shaft I4I has a spiral gear I54 (Fig. 3), meshing with a spiral gear I55 on a transverse shaft I56 that drives the usual intermittent film movement mechanism (not shown). Shaft I 56 also drives the shutter mech anism, and has for this purpose a spiral gear I51 (see Fig. 15) meshing with a spiral gear I58 which is mounted fast on the forward end of hollow shutter shaft I60. Shaft I60 is shown in Fig. 15 to be journaled in suitable bearings I6I, I62 and I63 supported by camera box 42. On the extreme forward end of hollow shaft I60 is the usual shutter I66. Mounted to rotate within hollow shaft I60 is an inner shaft I61, and mounted on the forward end thereof is a shutter leaf I68.

These shutter members I66 and I68, which are of conventional form, will be understood to be mounted to rotate between photographic aperture 82 and the film vidthin camera box 42, and to be adapted to take such a relative position as to provide substantially a 170 angular opening therebetween, so as to uncover the film for substantially 170 of rotation when shutter shafts I60 and I61 are rotated as one; or, are adapted by relative adjustive rotation of said shafts, to reduce the angular opening between the shutter members down-to zero, or in other words to efiect i what is known as a dissolve. The means for controlling the dissolve mechanism within the shiftable camera box 42 are mounted on stationary camera case l0, and are connectible at the proper times with said dissolve mechanism. For the purpose of disclosing these connections and control means it will be necessary to discuss in some detail the dissolve mechanis Figs. 11 and 12 show the rearward ends of shutter shafts I60 and I61. Fastened on hollow shaft I60, immediately to the rear of camera box rearward wall 42a, is a. gear sleeve I10, the forward end of which is formed as a worm HI, and the rearward end of which is journaled in a bearing I12 carried by a mounting casting I95 secured to camera carrier 42. The rearward end of inner shutter shaft I61 has a screw section I14, and mounted to work thereon is a nut member I15. This nut member I15 is fast within a sleeve I16 which slidably fits the bore of gear sleeve I10, and carries studs I 11 which project outwardly through longitudinal slots I16 in sleeve I10. The outer ends of studs I 11 engage in apertures "8:1 in a sleeve I 19 which is slidably mounted on sleeve I10. This sleeve I19 is embraced at its ends by and is rotatable within a cylindric carrier I60, the lower side of which has a downwardly projecting gear portion or rack I8I. This carrier member I is constrained against rotation by a way I82 formed in member I95 (Fig. 12) which receives and glides said gear projection I8I for longitudinal ovement. Gear portion I M is formed with spiral gear teeth, and the latter mesh with a spiral gear segment I85. Fast with this gear segment is a depending arm I86, to the lower end of which is pivoted one end of a link I81, the other end of which is pivoted to the lower end of a vertically movable rack I (Figs. II, I2, I2a and I6). This rack I90, which is suitably supported and guided to move in a vertical direction, has on one edge rack teeth I9I which are constantly in mesh with a spur gear I92, which gear is fast on a rearwardly extending hollow shaft I 93 journaled in mounted casting I95.

The rearward end of shaft I93 has an integrally formed head I96, having in its rearward surface an ofi-center aperture I91 (Figs. 10 and 7). Head I96 carries a pointer I96 which is 5 adapted to move through substantially 170 of arc over a calibrated shutter-opening scale I99 inscribed on a plate 200 carried by mounting member I95. J ournaled in and longitudinally slidable through a bore 204 in rear housing wall i3 is a shaft 205, the inner end of which carries a crank disc 206 having a crank pin 201, said crank disc and. pin being adapted to be received within a countersink 200 formed in the inner surface of wall it (Fig. 10). Shaft 265 normally carries it crank disc 206 and pin. 201 in the latter position by reason of a coil spring 260 placed around said shaft in a counter bore 2 and which acts outwardly against a collar 2 E2 on shaft 205. The exterior end of shaft 205 carries a manual operating crank tilt.

Shaft 205 is so located in camera housing wall i it as to be concentric with shaft 393 when the camera box 42 has been moved to take position (Fig. 9). Crank pin 201 on shaft 205 is so ar- 25 ranged that at a time when the camera box is in the position of Fig. 9, it may be drivingly engaged with aperture I91 by forcing crank 2M and shaft 205 inwardly against the force of spring 2! and turning the crank until the pin finds the aperture. This engagement having been made, turning of crank 2I4 causes rotation of shaft I03 and gear I92, thereby moving rack 100 up or down, depending upon the direction in which the crank is turned. Such movement of rack I90 acts through link I81 and arm I86 to rotate spiral gear segment I85, which in turn acts on spiral gear element I6I to cause longitudinal translation of carrier member [80. The rotating sleeve I10 embraced and carried by 40 member I80 is thus caused to move longitudinally, on gear sleeve Q10, and in so doing acts through studs I18 to move nut member I16 forwardly or rearwardly within the bore of the gear sleeve. Since the nut member is constrained against rela- 5 tive rotation within the gear sleeve, this longitudinal movement of the nut member causes rotation of screw element I14 relative to gear sleeve I10, and consequently relative rotation of shaft I61 within hollow shaft I60. Thus by this opera- 50 tion the opening between the shutter members carried by the shutter shafts I60 and I61 may be varied between zero and 170, and this control may obviously be effected while the camera is in full operation. The scale I99 which indicates the degrees of shutter opening is visible from outside the camera through an arcuate double glass walled window 220 in wall I3, with which the scale comes into register when the camera box is in the position of Fig.9. The double glass is 60 used in this window for the sake of added sound insulation. Preferably, the rear end of inner shutter shaft I61 and the rear end of gear sleeve I on hollow'shutter shaft I60 are provided with shutter signal devices 222 and 223, respectively, (Figs. '7 and 11). Member 222 is a circular disk, one half of which is painted black to correspond with the shutter opening of the shutter on the forward end of shaft I60, while member 223, which may be painted black all over, is of the same shape as the shutter lead on the forward end of shaft I61. These shutter signal members register with a double glass walled window 225 in rear camera wall I3 when the camera mecha- 75 nism is in the take position described, and

indicate at a glance the positions of the two shutter members.

Thus when camera box 42 has been moved by operation of handle IIS-to taking position, the dissolve mechanism carried by said box comes into operative relation with a manual crank which is mounted in the rear exterior housing wall, and which may at that time be operatively engaged with the dissolve mechanism.

The dissolve mechanism also involves automatic devices for, accomplishing the dissolve, which likewise register with control devices mounted in the rear camera case wall it when the camera box has been moved to the taking position illustrated in Fig. 9. The worm ill on gear sleeve H0 meshes with worm gear 230 on a vertical shaft 23E (Figs. ll and 12). Shaft 206 carries a spiral gear 232 which meshes with a spiral gear 230 on a stud shaft 230, said shaft 23d also carrying a spur gear 235. Gear 235 meshes with a spur gear i330, which in turn meshes with another spur gear 231 directly over it.

Gear 236 is mounted to rotate on the inner end of a shaft 240 which is mounted to reciprocate through a bore 2 3i in casting I95 (Figs. 9, i0 and 16). Movement of shaft 240 inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 9 engages gear 236 with gear teeth 242 on the edge of vertically movable rack I00 which is opposite to the previously mentioned rack teeth l0l. Gears 235, 236 and 231 are of sufficient length relative to each other that gear 236 remains in mesh with the other two gears during such movement into mesh with the rack. thus in mesh with rack gear teeth 242, the rack will be moved in a vertical direction, and will actuate the shutter dissolve mechanism in a manner similar to that effected when hand crank 2I4 is operated, as previously described. The rack is then being moved by power applied through the gear train from the rotating shutter shaft I60. The upper gear 231 is mounted on a shaft 245 (Fig. 11) which is longitudinally movable in casting I95, gear 231 having a. peripheral groove 246 engaged by a fork 241 mounted on the inner end of a control shaft 248 which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation through a bore 249 in casting I95. Inward movement of shaft 248 from the position shown in Fig. 11 causes gear 231 to move inwardly into engagement with the rack teeth 242 of rack I90, while remaining in mesh with its driving gear 236, and since gears 236 and 231 rotate in opposite directions, the rack is then moved in a direction opposite to that effected during the engagement of gear 236 with the rack, thus causing automatic operation of the dissolve mechanism in a sense opposite to that effected by engagement of gear 236 with the rack.

To prevent gears 236 and 231 from being engaged simultaneously with the rack, there is provided a safety guard in the form of a pivoted yoke 250 (Figs. 9, l3 and 16), the two arms of which have beveled ends 25I which engage conical surfaces 252 on shafts 240 and 248. The relative arrangement of the parts is such that in order for either of the two shafts to move inwardly to engage its gear with the rack, its conical surface 252 in engagement with the beveled end of the corresponding yoke arm must cause the yoke to swing to a position with the beveled end of its other arm moved into locking engagement with the inwardly inclined conical surf-ace 252 of the other shaft. Thus but one of the two shafts can It will be evident that when gear 236 is be moved inwardly at a time, inward movement of either one of the shafts positively locking the other against similar movement.

It has been said that gears 236 and 231 are moved into mesh with rack I90 by virtue of inward movement of shafts 240 or 248, respectively. These shafts are normally yieldingly held in a rearwardly retracted position by means of coil springs 263 and 254, respectively, (Figs. 9 and 11) placed around the shafts in counter bores 255 and 268, and acting outwardly on shaft collars 251 and 258 which work within said counter bores. The outer ends of shafts 240 and 248 are adapted to be actuated by actuating plungers 258 and 260, 15 respectively (Figs. 9 and 17) which are mounted to reciprocate through bores 26I and 262 in rear housing wall I3, and are located in said wall in such positions that plungers 259 and 260 come 2 respectively, when camera carrier 42 is moved to photographing position (Figs. 7, 9 and 1'1). The

inner ends of plungers 259 and 260 have enlarged heads 26Ia and 262a, respectively, adapted to engage the adjacent ends of shafts 240 and 248, said heads being engageable against the inner surface of rear wall casting I3 to limit outward movement of the plungers. The plungers are normally yieldingly held in a position with heads 26Ia and 262a in such engagement with wall I3 (clearing the outer ends of shafts 240 and 248) by means of coil springs 263 and 264, respectively, placed around said plungers in counter bores 265 and 266, and acting outwardly against shaft collars 261 and 268 which work within said counter bores. On the outwardly projecting ends of plungers 269 and 200 are push buttons 259a and 260a, respectively. It will be evident that normally there is no interference between shafts 240 and 248, and their actuating plungers 259 and 40 260, so that the box or carrier member 42 is free of interference in its transverse shaftf but that, when carrier 42 is in photographing position (Fig.

9), either of the plungers, say 259, may be moved inwardly by pressure of the finger on push button 46 269a, until the inner end of said plunger engages the outer end of its corresponding shaft 240 and moves the latter inwardly to engage gear 236 with rack I90, with the previously described resulting operation of the dissolve mechanism. Up- 60 on release of push button 259a, both members 240 and 259 return to their normal rearwardly extended inoperative positions. Shaft 248 is similarly operated to engage gear 231 with the rack by pushing inwardly on push button 2600.

A means is preferably provided for normally locking the dissolve mechanism in such a way that relative rotation between the two shutter shafts cannot take place during normal operation of the camera. For this purpose there is 60 provided a locking plunger 210 (see Figs. 9, 10,

14 and 16) which is mounted to reciprocate in a bearing 21I, the latter extending through and being fastened to camera wall 421; in such disposition that the end of plunger 210 is immedi- 65 ately opposite the rear side of rack member I90.

The forward end plunger 210 is provided with horizontally cut teeth 215 (Fig. 14), which are adapted to engage rack teeth 216 on the adjac'ent side of said rack. I A coil spring 211 placed 70 around plunger 210 and engaging a plunger shoulder 218 urges said plunger to move in a direction to engage its teeth 215 with rack teeth 216. It will be evident that such engagement positively locks rack I90 against vertical move- 75 ment, and hence locks the entire dissolve mechaaosavn nism adjustment means against operation. When the dissolve mechanism is to be operated, plunger 210 is withdrawn against spring 211 to disengage the rack for vertical movement. Plunger 210 carries for this purpose a plate 280, into one end of which is screwthreaded a push rod 26I which is reciprocable through the aforementioned hollow shaft I93 and projects normally a short distance beyond shaft head I96 (Fig. 10). When the parts are in the position of Fig. 9, and crank 2I4 is moved inwardly to engage crank pin 201 with aperture I91 for the purpose of accomplishing a manual dissolve, crank disc 206 engages the projecting end of push rod 28! and forces it inwardly, thereby moving plate 280 and locking plunger 210 to disengage said plunger with rack I90. The rack is thus freed for vertical movement, and manual crank 2I4 may be turned to accomplish the dissolve mechanism operation desired. When crank 2I4 is released, it moves outwardly under the influence of its spring 2I0, and so releases push rod 28I and plate 280 to move outwardly under the influence of 1ocking plunger spring 211, which thereupon acts to move the locking plunger into engagement with -the rack teeth to lock the dissolve mechanism against further shutter adjustment movement.

Locking plunger 210 is also moved inwardly to release the rack with inward movement of either shaft 240 or shaft 248 in meshing gears 236 or 231, respectively, with the rack. For this purpose shaft 240 has on its extreme inner end an extension 284 (Fig. 16) adapted to engage plate 280 during its inward movement to move said plate and locking plunger 210 inwardly to disengage the rack. For the same purpose, gear 231 which is moved inwardly into mesh with the rack through inward movement of shaft 248, is provided with a projection 286 (Fig. 11) adapted to engage and move plate 280 during such inward movement, and so cause. disengagement of the locking plunger with the rack.

The focusing means for the photographic lens is mounted on exterior case II). It has been described previously how rotation of lens mount barrel 14 within barrel 10 which it screwthreadedly engages causes forward or rearward focusing movement of the photographic lens which is carried by barrel 14. For the purpose of so rotating lens mount barrel 14, said barrel is provided with an integrally formed spur gear 300, which is adapted to mesh with a smaller spur gear 30I keyed on a shaft 302 which is journaled at its two ends in suitable bearings carried by a gear housing 303. Gear 30I, the top of which projects outwardly through an opening in housing 303, is of sufficient length that the gear 300 on the longitudinally travelling lens mount will remain in mesh therewith in all positions of such longitudinal travel, as will be clear from Fig. 5.

Pinned on shaft 302 immediately to the rear of gear 30I is a spiral gear 305 which meshes with a spiral gear 306 mounted on the end of a substantially horizontal shaft 301, the latter extending through and being mounted for rotation in a tubular section 3030: of housing 303. Mounted on the end of shaft 301, just outside the plane of the side of camera case I0, is a spiral gear 3I0 which meshes with a spiral gear 3 mounted on the forward end of a horizontal longitudinally extending focusing shaft 3 I2. The forward end of said shaft 3 I2 is journaled within a concentric tubular extension 3I4 of housing 303, which extension is received within a bore 3I5 provided in the upper end of a supporting bracket 3|6 which extends upwardly from the mounting 36 affixed to case Ill (Fig. 6).

Shaft 3|2 extends along the side of the camera case HI, below the bulge of camera case door 3i, (Figs. 1 and 6) and between door arms 32 and 33 and camera case wall 14 (Fig. 18). The shaft is supported by means of bearings 323 and 32H, bearing 3213 being mounted on a bracket 3322 secured to casing wall I4, and bearing 321 being mounted on a bracket 323 formed integrally with the aforementioned shaft mounting 31.

0n the rear end of shaft 3|2 is mounted a manual operating knob 325, by means of which said shaft may be rotated and the described gear train leading to the lens mount operated accordingly. As a means for focusing the lens from the front end of the camera, there is provided a spiral gear 326 in mesh with focusing shaft gear 3M (Fig. t), which is on a shaft 321 operable by a manual crank 323.

The view finder for the camera is shown at 336, and is mounted on camera case door 31. An automatic finder parallax adjustment device is associated with and operated by the iocusing mechanism described immediately preceding. A view finder carrying bracket 338 is mounted on camera case door 3i (see Figs. 4 and 19), and removably interfitted therein, as by means of vertical dovetail way 332, is a view finder mounting member 333. This mounting "member 333 is in the form of a yoke and receives a pair of vertically spaced finder lugs 334 (Fig. 4) a pivot pin 335 extending downwardly through the yoke arms and lugs 334. The view finder swings for its parallax adjustment on this pivot pin 335.

The lugs 334 through which on one side of finder head casting 346, the forward end of which carries the view finder objective mounting 34!. Secured to the rear end of casting 349 is the rearwardly extending finder casting 342, which is rectangular in cross section (Fig. 18), and diverges somewhat rearwardly, (Fig. 19). The finder casing forms with casting 346 a light conduit from the objective 34| to the rear open end of the casing. The casing carries suitable optical elements, as a collector lens 344 having a ground glass surface 345 at the proper distance back of the objective, and a second collector lens 345 back of lens 344.

A coil torsion spring 348 is placed around finder mounting pivot pin 335, with one end bearing against finder mounting member 333 and the other bearing against finder head casting 340 (see Figs. 4 and 19), said spring being so arranged as to urge the finder body to swing inwardly about pivot 335 towards the camera case.

Means are then provided for moving thefinder body outwardly, in opposition to this spring, in accordance with operation of the camera lens focusing means. For this purpose an operative interconnection is provided between the manual focusing shaft 3|2 and the finder body, this 'interconnection embodying a series of selective camming elements, each of which corresponds to a camera lens of given focal length.

Mounted on the finderbody is a horizontal cam carrying shaft 350 (Figs. 18 and 19), said shaft being fitted non-rotatably in mountings 35| aflixed to the finder casing. The several cams, designated at 353, 354, 355, and 356, are then rotatably mounted on this shaft 350, each cam being in the form of a flat plate having a curved outer camming edge. It will be observed the finder is pivotally mount-ed to swing on pin 335 are formedfrom Fig. 18 that the several cam plates extend outwardly from their hubs at different elevations with reference to the hub axis, so that the cam plates may all be moved to the horizontal extended operative position together and will lie fiat together, one above the other, in that position. In the position shown in the drawings cam plates 354, 355, and 356 are in this extended position, while the cam plate 353, which would be lowermost when moved to such an extended position, is shown rotated through to the inoperative position, adiacent the lower side of the finder body. It will be obvious that cams 354, 355 and 355 are likewise movable in succession to a similar inoperative position.

The outer operative edge of each cam plate is curved in accordance with the focal length of the lens with which that cam is to be used. It will be observed that the several cams 353, 353, and 356 are of progremively decreasing width. A movable cam actuating member 363 is provided to operate on the curved cam edges, and it will be obvious that said member will be enabled to engage the cam edge of only the lowermost cam in any given case, since all cam plates above are always or narrower width. Accordingly, to select any cam for use, that cam and all cams above it are placed in the outwardly extended position, while all cams below are folded down and under the cam body to the inoperative position, as taken by cam 353 in Figs. 18 and 19.

The cam actuating member 363 is in form of a roller, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the camera and to engage and operate on the curved outer edges of the cam plates.

This roller is mounted for rotation on the upper end of a carrying arm 361, which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a pivot pin 332 which is coaxial with the pivot axis of door arms 32 and 33. This pin is mounted on a carrier plate 354, the upper end of which has a screwthreaded bore 365 (Fig. 18) which works on a screwthreaded section 366 of focusing shaft 3|2. Carrier member 364 is formed with a slide plate 368 which is slidable in a longitudinally extending way 369 formed in a guide plate 310 secured against camera case wall |4. Arm 36| has a fiat surface 31! which is adapted to engage a fiat surface 312 on carrier member 364 when said arm is in the position of Fig. 18, the arm being held in such engagement by the action of the finder mounting spring 348 which urges the finder and cams carried thereby to press arm 361 against carrier 364. The head of the screw 314 that secures cam rollers 360 on the upper end of arms 36| is received within a longitudinal way 315 formed in a guide strip 316 secured to door 3|, and moves in this way as arm 36E moves with carrier 364 to move roller 366 along the cam plates. When camera case door 3| is swung downwardly on pivots 34 and 35, this strip 315 engages the head of screw 314 and so causes arm 36| to swing downwardly on its pivot 362, which is concentric with the door pivot. Thus the camera case door 3|, finder, and finder actuating roller arm 36| all swing down together on a single pivot axis, while the arm carrier 364 remains stationary.

It will now be evident that the rotatable focusing shaft acts as a lead screw to move carrier 364 and arm 36| forwardly or rearwardly as the shaft is turned in one direction or the other, and that the cam actuator 360 carried thereby acts on the curved outer edge of the selected finder cam to swing the finder on its pivot 335 in accordance with the characteristics of that cam. It will be understood, of course, that the screwthreads between the focusing shaft and the cam roller arm carrier are so arranged that the cam roller moves towards the front end of the camera as the lens is moved forwardly to shorten the distance of focus, and that each cam is designed in accordance with a lens of given focal length, so that by selection of the proper cam for a lens of given focal length in the camera, the finder will automatically be caused to swing, as the focusing shaft is rotated, in such a manner as to maintain the point intersection of its axis with the optical axis of the camera lens always at the distance at which said camera lens if focused.

Reference is here made to my copending application entitled View finder parallax and photographic lens focusing mechanism for motion picture camera, filed March 16, 1934, Ser. No. 715,838, in which the above described focusing and finder parallax adjustment means are claimed. Certain features of the dissolve mechanism as here disclosed are claimed in a copending application, Shutter dissolve mechanism, filed May 5, 1934, Ser. No. 724,193, and certain herein disclosed control devices for a shutter dissolve mechanism are claimed in a copending, divisional application entitled Shutter dissolve mechanism, filed December 7, 1935, Ser. No. 53,380. Claims to those means and mechanisms, in themselves and regardless of the type of camera, are made in said co-pending applications. In this application such means and mechanisms enter only as typical elements of the whole combination that makes up the complete sound proofed camera.

From what has now been said it will be seen that I have provided a complete sound insulated motion picture camera, characterized by extreme compactness, and by convenience and facility of adjustment, operation and control. The sound insulated exterior case of the camera has been designed to support the interior camera mechanism at the bottom through sound insulation material, and its various walls are lined with a layer of sound insulation material and are of such conformation that said layer closely approaches the interior camera mechanism at the sides and top, without actually touching it, being shaped, however, to accommodate movement of certain components of the camera mechanism.

The air space between the camera mechanism and the layer of insulation material serves to minimize transference of mechanism vibrations to the exterior case, and thus lessens possibility of noise from that source.

The exterior case embodies a separate magazine compartment, which is adapted to be easily opened up to reach the inner film magazine without the necessity of opening the entire exterior camera case. This provision is of obvious advantage.

The rear wall of the exterior case permanently carries certain optical viewing and mechanical control devices which are cooperable, in certain positions of the interior shiftable camera mechanism box or carrier, with corresponding devices and mechanisms located on said shiftable carrier. Thus the devices which are mounted on said shiftable carrier are operable and manually controllable from outside the closed sound insulated case in which the carrier moves. The

camera lens focusing mechanism, and the finder and finder parallax adjustment means, are mounted permanently on the outside of the exterior case of the camera.

It will thus'be seen that I have provided a aces-r14 unitary and" compact sound insulated camera, which is to be distinguished from the large sound proof boxes which have heretofore been placed around conventional cameras, and which have been so heavy and cumbersome as to require specially designed tripods to carry their weight. The present camera is of over-all dimensions but slightly larger than the conventional camera, and of but little increased weight, therefore requiring for its support nothing more than the usual standard tripod.

It will be understood the drawings and descriptionare to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:'

1. A sound insulated motion picture camera, comprising a closed exterior box-like case, an interior camera mechanism, an insulation base pad on the inside surface of the lower wall of said case supporting the lower side of the camera mechanism, horizontal projections extending outwardly from the ends of the camera mechanism, horizontal projections extending inwardly from the camera case overlying said last mentioned projections, pads of sound insulation material fitted tightly between the pairs of projections at the two ends of the case, and screws at the two ends of the case passing upwardly through the insulation base pad, the camera mechanism and case projections, and the insulation pads lying between said projections. 2. A sound insulated motion picture camera,-

comprising a closed exterior case, an interior camera structure positioned within said case embodying a stationary frame and a mechanism carrier member transversely shiftable on said frame, sound insulation material between said case and said camera structure, a drive motor on said carrier member, a rearwardly extending drive shaft for said motor, a gear on said shaft, a reciprocable manual drive shaft extending through the rear wall of the exterior case, a gear on the inner end of said shaft adapted to mesh with the first mentioned gear when the carrier member is in one position, said manual drive shaft being retractable rearwardly to disengage said gear to permit the carrier member to be shifted transversely, and spring means yieldingly urging said manual drive shaft toward retracted position.

3. A sound insulated motion picture camera, comprising a closed exterior box-like case, an interior camera mechanism, an insulation base pad supported by the lower wall of said case and supporting the lower side of the camera mechanism, horizontal outwardly extending flanges on the lower portion of the camera, said flanges overlying marginal portions of the insulation base pad, horizontal inwardly extending flanges on the exterior case overlying said last mentioned flanges, pads of sound insulation material fitted tightly between the pairs of upper and lower flanges, and means clamping together said marginal portions of the insulation base pad and said inwardly extending camera case flanges.

4. In a motion picture camera comprising a closed sound insulated case, the combination of a camera mechanism within the case laterally shiftable therein from one position to another, said camera mechanism including a manually actuatable instrumentality, an actuating device for said instrumentality mounted in an exterior wall of the closed sound insulated case and operatively connectible with said instrumentality when in one of its positions, said actuating device comprising a. shaft mounted for reciprocation through said exterior wall on a line at right angles to the direction of lateral shifting movement of said camera mechanism, the inner portion of said shaft being adapted for operative cooperation with said instrumentality when the shaft is moved inwardly through said exterior wall, and the shaft being movable in an outward direction to a retracted position to clear the camera mechanism for its lateral shifting movement at right angles to the direction of retractive movement of said shaft.

GEORGE A. MITCHELL. 

